Apparatus and methods for haptic training of robots

ABSTRACT

Robotic devices may be trained by a trainer guiding the robot along a target trajectory using physical contact with the robot. The robot may comprise an adaptive controller configured to generate control commands based on one or more of the trainer input, sensory input, and/or performance measure. The trainer may observe task execution by the robot. Responsive to observing a discrepancy between the target behavior and the actual behavior, the trainer may provide a teaching input via a haptic action. The robot may execute the action based on a combination of the internal control signal produced by a learning process of the robot and the training input. The robot may infer the teaching input based on a comparison of a predicted state and actual state of the robot. The robot&#39;s learning process may be adjusted in accordance with the teaching input so as to reduce the discrepancy during a subsequent trial.

PRIORITY AND CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityto U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/464,104, filed on Mar. 20, 2017,entitled “Apparatus and Methods for Haptic Training of Robots”, issuingas U.S. Pat. No. 9,844,873 on Dec. 19, 2017, which is a continuation ofand claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/102,410, filed on Dec. 10, 2013, entitled “Apparatus and Methods forHaptic Training of Robots”, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,597,797, which claimsthe benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/901,235, filed on Nov. 7, 2013, entitled “Apparatus and Methods forHaptic Training of Robots”, each of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

This application is related to co-owned and U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/070,114, filed on Nov. 1, 2013 and entitled “APPARATUS ANDMETHODS FOR ONLINE TRAINING OF ROBOTS”; Ser. No. 14/070,239, filed onNov. 1, 2013 and entitled “REDUCED DEGREE OF FREEDOM ROBOTIC CONTROLLERAPPARATUS AND METHODS”; Ser. No. 14/070,269, filed on Nov. 1, 2013 andentitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR OPERATING ROBOTIC DEVICES USINGSELECTIVE STATE SPACE TRAINING”; Ser. No. 14/040,520, entitled“APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TRAINING OF ROBOTIC CONTROL ARBITRATION”,filed Sep. 27, 2013; Ser. No. 14/040,498, entitled “ROBOTIC CONTROLARBITRATION APPARATUS AND METHODS”, filed Sep. 27, 2013; Ser. No.13/953,595 entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING OF ROBOTICDEVICES”, filed Jul. 29, 2013; U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/918,338 entitled “ROBOTIC TRAINING APPARATUS AND METHODS”, filed Jun.14, 2013; Ser. No. 13/918,298 entitled “HIERARCHICAL ROBOTIC CONTROLLERAPPARATUS AND METHODS”, filed Jun. 14, 2013; Ser. No. 13/918,620entitled “PREDICTIVE ROBOTIC CONTROLLER APPARATUS AND METHODS”, filedJun. 14, 2013; Ser. No. 13/907,734 entitled “ADAPTIVE ROBOTIC INTERFACEAPPARATUS AND METHODS”, filed May 31, 2013; Ser. No. 13/842,530 entitled“ADAPTIVE PREDICTOR APPARATUS AND METHODS”, filed Mar. 15, 2013; Ser.No. 13/842,562 entitled “ADAPTIVE PREDICTOR APPARATUS AND METHODS FORROBOTIC CONTROL”, filed Mar. 15, 2013; Ser. No. 13/842,616 entitled“ROBOTIC APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DEVELOPING A HIERARCHY OF MOTORPRIMITIVES”, filed Mar. 15, 2013; Ser. No. 13/842,647 entitled“MULTICHANNEL ROBOTIC CONTROLLER APPARATUS AND METHODS”, filed Mar. 15,2013; and Ser. No. 13/842,583 entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FORTRAINING OF ROBOTIC DEVICES”, filed Mar. 15, 2013; each of the foregoingbeing incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND Technological Field

The present disclosure relates to machine learning, operation, andtraining of robotic devices.

Background

Robotic devices may be used in a variety of applications, such asmanufacturing, medical, safety, military, exploration, elder care,healthcare, and/or other applications. Some existing robotic devices(e.g., manufacturing assembly and/or packaging robots) may be programmedin order to perform various desired functions. Some robotic devices(e.g., surgical robots) may be remotely controlled by humans. Somerobotic devices may learn to operate via exploration.

Programming robots may be costly and remote control by a human operatormay cause delays and/or require high level of dexterity from theoperator. Furthermore, changes in the robot model and/or environment mayrequire changes in the programming code. Remote control typically relieson user experience and/or agility that may be inadequate when dynamicsof the control system and/or environment (e.g., an unexpected obstacleappears in path of a remotely controlled vehicle) change rapidly.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure relates to a processor-implemented methodof operating a robot. The method may be performed by one or moreprocessors configured to execute computer program instructions. Themethod may comprise: operating, using one or more processors, the robotto perform a task characterized by a target trajectory; and responsiveto observing a discrepancy between an actual trajectory and the targettrajectory, modifying the actual trajectory via a physical contact withthe robot. The performance of the task by the robot may be configuredbased on a learning process configured to produce a first controlsignal. The modification of the actual trajectory may be configured tocause the robot to determine a second control signal, and to transitionthe actual trajectory towards the target trajectory using the firstcontrol signal and the second control signal.

In some implementations, the learning process may comprise a supervisedlearning process configured based on a teaching signal comprising acombination of the first control signal and the second control signal.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a non-transitory computerreadable medium comprising a plurality of instructions. In oneembodiment, the plurality of instructions, effectuate control of arobotic apparatus by: based on a context, determining a first controlsignal configured to transition the robotic apparatus to a first state;determining a discrepancy; and determining a second control signal basedon the discrepancy, the second control signal configured to transitionthe robotic apparatus to the current state. The current state isconfigured based on the first control signal and a state modification,and the state modification is applied via a physical contact.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a robotic apparatus. In oneembodiment, the robot apparatus includes: a manipulator having first andsecond joints characterized by first and second joint angles,respectively; a sensor module configured to convey information relatedto one or more of an environment of the robot and the manipulator; andan adaptive controller operable in accordance with a learning processconfigured to guide the manipulator to a target state in accordance withthe information. The adaptive robot apparatus determines a discrepancy;and updates the learning process based on the discrepancy. Thediscrepancy is configured based on an intervention by a user, theintervention including modification of the first and the second jointangles via a physical contact with the manipulator; and the updatedlearning process includes determination of a correction signal, thecorrection signal configured to guide the manipulator to the currentstate based on an occurrence of the information.

These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the presentdisclosure, as well as the methods of operation and functions of therelated elements of structure and the combination of parts and economiesof manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification,wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in thevarious figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only andare not intended as a definition of the limits of the disclosure. Asused in the specification and in the claims, the singular form of “a”,“an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearlydictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graphical illustration depicting trajectories for use inhaptic training of a robot, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a robotic controllerapparatus configured for haptic learning, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating use of an adaptivepredictor apparatus by a robotic controller configured for hapticlearning, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 4A is a functional block diagram illustrating an adaptive apparatusconfigured to determine a teaching input during haptic training based onmotion of the robotic platform, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

FIG. 4B is a functional block diagram illustrating an adaptive systemcomprising a feedback loop useful for determining a teaching inputduring haptic training, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating a robotic controllerapparatus for implementing, inter alia, online haptic learningmethodology, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 6 is logical flow diagram illustrating a method of haptic trainingof a robotic device, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 7 is logical flow diagram illustrating a method of operating arobotic device using haptic learning methodology, in accordance with oneor more implementations.

FIG. 8 is a graphical illustration depicting a robotic apparatuscomprising a multi-joint manipulator useful with the haptic trainingmethodology, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 9 is a graphical illustration depicting robotic apparatuscomprising an adaptive controller apparatus of the disclosure configuredfor obstacle avoidance using haptic learning methodology, in accordancewith one or more implementations.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an artificial neuron networkprocessing apparatus useful with an adaptive controller of a roboticdevice such as the one depicted in FIG. 9 in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

FIG. 11A is a block diagram illustrating a computerized system usefulfor, inter alia, operating a robotic controller configured using hapticlearning methodology, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 11B is a block diagram illustrating a cell-type neuromorphiccomputerized system useful with, inter alia, haptic learning methodologyof the disclosure, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 11C is a block diagram illustrating a hierarchical neuromorphiccomputerized system architecture useful with, inter alia, hapticlearning methodology, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 11D is a block diagram illustrating cell-type neuromorphiccomputerized system architecture useful with, inter alia, hapticlearning methodology, in accordance with one or more implementations.

All Figures disclosed herein are © Copyright 2013 Brain Corporation. Allrights reserved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations of the present technology will now be described indetail with reference to the drawings, which are provided asillustrative examples so as to enable those skilled in the art topractice the technology. Notably, the figures and examples below are notmeant to limit the scope of the present disclosure to a singleimplementation, and other implementations are possible by way ofinterchange of or combination with some or all of the described orillustrated elements. Wherever convenient, the same reference numberswill be used throughout the drawings to refer to same or like parts.

Where certain elements of exemplary implementations may be partially orfully implemented using known components, only those portions of suchknown components that are necessary for an understanding of the presentdisclosure will be described, and detailed descriptions of otherportions of such known components will be omitted so as not to obscurethe disclosure.

In the present specification, an implementation showing a singularcomponent should not be considered limiting; rather, the disclosure isintended to encompass other implementations including a plurality of thesame component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwiseherein.

Further, the present disclosure encompasses present and future knownequivalents to the components referred to herein by way of illustration.

As used herein, the term “bus” is meant generally to denote all types ofinterconnection or communication architecture that is used to access thesynaptic and neuron memory. The “bus” may be electrical, optical,wireless, infrared, and/or another type of communication medium. Theexact topology of the bus could be for example standard “bus”,hierarchical bus, network-on-chip, address-event-representation (AER)connection, and/or other type of communication topology used foraccessing, e.g., different memories in pulse-based system.

As used herein, the terms “computer”, “computing device”, and“computerized device” may include one or more of personal computers(PCs) and/or minicomputers (e.g., desktop, laptop, and/or other PCs),mainframe computers, workstations, servers, personal digital assistants(PDAs), handheld computers, embedded computers, programmable logicdevices, personal communicators, tablet computers, portable navigationaids, J2ME equipped devices, cellular telephones, smart phones, personalintegrated communication and/or entertainment devices, and/or any otherdevice capable of executing a set of instructions and processing anincoming data signal.

As used herein, the term “computer program” or “software” may includeany sequence of human and/or machine cognizable steps which perform afunction. Such program may be rendered in a programming language and/orenvironment including one or more of C/C++, C #, Fortran, COBOL,MATLAB®, PASCAL, Python®, assembly language, markup languages (e.g.,HTML, SGML, XML, VoXML), object-oriented environments (e.g., CommonObject Request Broker Architecture (CORBA)), Java® (e.g., J2ME®, JavaBeans), Binary Runtime Environment (e.g., BREW), and/or otherprogramming languages and/or environments.

As used herein, the terms “connection”, “link”, “transmission channel”,“delay line”, “wireless” may include a causal link between any two ormore entities (whether physical or logical/virtual), which may enableinformation exchange between the entities.

As used herein, the term “memory” may include an integrated circuitand/or other storage device adapted for storing digital data. By way ofnon-limiting example, memory may include one or more of ROM, PROM,EEPROM, DRAM, Mobile DRAM, SDRAM, DDR/2 SDRAM, EDO/FPMS, RLDRAM, SRAM,“flash” memory (e.g., NAND/NOR), memristor memory, PSRAM, and/or othertypes of memory.

As used herein, the terms “integrated circuit”, “chip”, and “IC” aremeant to refer to an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterneddiffusion of elements in or on to the surface of a thin substrate. Byway of non-limiting example, integrated circuits may include fieldprogrammable gate arrays (e.g., FPGAs), a programmable logic device(PLD), reconfigurable computer fabrics (RCFs), application-specificintegrated circuits (ASICs), printed circuits, organic circuits, and/orother types of computational circuits.

As used herein, the terms “microprocessor” and “digital processor” aremeant generally to include digital processing devices. By way ofnon-limiting example, digital processing devices may include one or moreof digital signal processors (DSPs), reduced instruction set computers(RISC), general-purpose (CISC) processors, microprocessors, gate arrays(e.g., field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)), PLDs, reconfigurablecomputer fabrics (RCFs), array processors, secure microprocessors,application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and/or other digitalprocessing devices. Such digital processors may be contained on a singleunitary IC die, or distributed across multiple components.

As used herein, the term “network interface” refers to any signal, data,and/or software interface with a component, network, and/or process. Byway of non-limiting example, a network interface may include one or moreof FireWire (e.g., FW400, FW800, and/or other), USB (e.g., USB2),Ethernet (e.g., 10/100, 10/100/1000 (Gigabit Ethernet), 10-Gig-E, and/orother), MoCA, Coaxsys (e.g., TVnet™), radio frequency tuner (e.g.,in-band/or OOB, cable modem, and/or other), Wi-Fi (802.11), WiMAX(802.16), PAN (e.g., 802.15), cellular (e.g., 3G, LTE/LTE-A/TD-LTE, GSM,and/or other), IrDA families, and/or other network interfaces.

As used herein, the terms “node”, “neuron”, and “neuronal node” aremeant to refer, without limitation, to a network unit (e.g., a spikingneuron and a set of synapses configured to provide input signals to theneuron) having parameters that are subject to adaptation in accordancewith a model.

As used herein, the terms “state” and “node state” is meant generally todenote a full (or partial) set of dynamic variables used to describenode state.

As used herein, the term “synaptic channel”, “connection”, “link”,“transmission channel”, “delay line”, and “communications channel”include a link between any two or more entities (whether physical (wiredor wireless), or logical/virtual) which enables information exchangebetween the entities, and may be characterized by a one or morevariables affecting the information exchange.

As used herein, the term “Wi-Fi” includes one or more of IEEE-Std.802.11, variants of IEEE-Std. 802.11, standards related to IEEE-Std.802.11 (e.g., 802.11 a/b/g/n/s/v), and/or other wireless standards.

As used herein, the term “wireless” means any wireless signal, data,communication, and/or other wireless interface. By way of non-limitingexample, a wireless interface may include one or more of Wi-Fi,Bluetooth, 3G (3GPP/3GPP2), HSDPA/HSUPA, TDMA, CDMA (e.g., IS-95A,WCDMA, and/or other), FHSS, DSSS, GSM, PAN/802.15, WiMAX (802.16),802.20, narrowband/FDMA, OFDM, PCS/DCS, LTE/LTE-A/TD-LTE, analogcellular, CDPD, satellite systems, millimeter wave or microwave systems,acoustic, infrared (i.e., IrDA), and/or other wireless interfaces.

Apparatus and methods for haptic training of robotic devices aredisclosed herein. Robotic devices may be trained to perform a targettask (e.g., recognize an object, approach a target, avoid an obstacle,and/or other tasks). In some implementations, performing the task may beachieved by the robot by following one of two or more spatialtrajectories. By way of an illustration, a robotic vacuum apparatus mayavoid a chair by passing it on the left or on the right. A trainingentity may assist the robot in selecting a target trajectory out of twoor more available trajectories. In one or more implementations, thetraining entity may comprise a human user and/or a computerizedcontroller device.

The robot may comprise an adaptive controller configured to generatecontrol commands based on one or more of the teaching signal, sensoryinput, performance measure associated with the task, and/or otherinformation. Training may comprise a plurality of trials. During one ormore first trials, the trainer may observe operation of the robot. Thetrainer may refrain from providing the teaching signal to the robot. Therobot may select one of the two trajectories (e.g., initialize amaneuver to the left of the chair). Upon observing the trajectory choiceby the robot, the trainer may provide a teaching input configured toindicate to the robot a target trajectory. In some implementations, suchteaching input may comprise a left turn control command issued by thetrainer via a remote interface device (e.g., a joystick). The teachinginput may be configured to affect robot's trajectory during subsequenttrials so that probability of the robot selecting the same trajectory(e.g., passing the obstacle on the left) may be increased, compared to arandom trajectory selection, and/or trajectory selection by the robot inabsence of the teaching input. Upon completing a sufficient number oftrials, the robot may be capable of consistently navigating the selectedtrajectory in absence of the teaching input.

Online robot training methodology described herein may enable morereliable decision making and reduce confusion when operating roboticcontrollers in order to perform a target task via two or moretrajectories.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary trajectory configuration useful withonline learning methodology described herein. A robotic device 110 maybe trained to approach the target 140 and avoid obstacles 132, 134. Thetarget approach/avoidance task of the device 110 may be characterized bya target trajectory 130. Training may be performed by a training entityover multiple trials (e.g., 124, 126 in FIG. 1). Robot operation duringa given trial may be based on one or more control commands generated bya controller of the robot in accordance with sensory context. In one ormore implementations the context may comprise information about theposition and/or movement of the robot 110, obstacles 132, 134, and/orthe target 140. The robot's controller may comprise a predictor module,e.g., described below with respect to FIGS. 3-4B.

The training entity may comprise a human user and/or a computerizedagent. During a given trial, the training entity may observe actualtrajectory of the robot, e.g., the trajectory 142 during the trial 124in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the actual trajectory (shown by the solidline 142) of the robot at a location 144 may diverge from the targettrajectory (shown by the broken line 130) by of an amount indicated byan arrow 148. Based on detecting the discrepancy 148 between the targettrajectory 130 and the actual trajectory 142, the training entity mayprovide a teaching input to the robotic device 110 at the location 144.The training input may comprise a haptic action, characterized by aphysical contact between the trainer and the robotic device. In someimplementations, the haptic action may comprise one or more of a push, apull, a movement (e.g., pick up and move, move forward, backwards,rotate, rich for an object, pick up, grasp, manipulate, release, and/orother movements), a bump, moving the robot or a portion thereof along atarget trajectory, holding the robot in place, and/or other physicalinteractions of the trainer with the device 110. In one or moreimplementations of training a manipulator arm, the haptic action maycomprise the trainer grabbing and moving the arm along the targettrajectory. The arm may be equipped with force/torque sensor. Based onthe sensor readings from the force/torque vectors generated by thetrainer may be inferred. The controller may utilize the inferredforce/torque sensors in order to produce control commands configured torepeat the motion of the arm due to the trainer haptic input.

As a result of the teaching haptic input, the robot actual trajectorymay be adjusted to location 146. A controller of the robot 110 may beconfigured to detect the trajectory displacement 148. Trajectorydisplacement 148 may be characterized by a change in the state of therobot. In one or more implementations, the robot state change may bebased on a modification of one or more parameters. Examples of suchparameters may include one or more of motion characteristics of roboticplatform (e.g., speed, acceleration, orientation, rotation, and/or othermotion characteristics), joint position, motor current draw, motortorque, force on a motor/joint, and/or other parameters. In one or moreimplementations, the unpredicted (e.g., due to trainer actions) changein the state of the robotic device may be interpreted as the teachinginput. In some implementations wherein a state change may occur due toan external condition (e.g., a collision with an obstacle, a skid due toa loss of traction, and/or other external condition) the occurrence ofthe training input may be indicated to the robotic controller using,e.g., visual and/or audio signal (clues) accompanying the haptic input.Such signal may comprise an audible command (e.g., a click), appearanceof trainer body (e.g., a user hand and/or a trainer manipulator) withina sensory video frame. In some implementations, the teaching input maybe inferred using one or more tactile sensors mounted on the roboticbody. Activation of a specific sensor may be interpreted as an intentionof the user for the robot to change trajectory of the robot in aspecific way. By way of an example, activation of a tactile sensormounted on the back of a mobile robotic platform may be interpreted as ateaching command to move forward. In one or more implementations,mapping of the user intentions onto the particular sensor activation maybe pre-defined (e.g., hand-coded) or learned using supervised learningor reinforcement learning.

Based on inferring the training input associated with the stateadjustment 148, the controller of the robot may adjust its learningprocess in order to take into account the teaching input. For example,based on an output produced by the adjusted learning process during asubsequent trial 126, the trajectory 152 of the robot may be configuredcloser to the target trajectory 130 (e.g., the discrepancy 150 beingsmaller than the discrepancy 148).

Various approaches may be utilized in order to determine a discrepancybetween the current state and the target state along the trajectory. Inone or more implementations, a distance measure, a norm, a maximumabsolute deviation, a signed/unsigned difference, a correlation, apoint-wise comparison, and/or a function of an n-dimensional distance(e.g., a mean squared error) may be utilized. In one or moreimplementations, the distance D between the actual x and the predictedstate x^(p) may be determined as follows:D=(x ^(p) −x),  (Eqn. 1)D=sign(x ^(p))−sign(x),  (Eqn. 2)D=sign(x ^(p) −x).  (Eqn. 3)

FIG. 2 illustrates a robotic apparatus configured to implement hapticlearning, in accordance with one or more implementations. The apparatus200 may comprise a robotic platform 210 (e.g., a mobile rover, an aerialvehicle, a manipulator, and/or other robotic platform) that isconfigured to traverse a spatial extent. The platform may comprise oneor more actuators (e.g., motors) that may be controlled by an adaptivecontroller module 202. The controller 202 may be operable in accordancewith a learning process configured to determine control commands 204using any applicable methodologies including, e.g., an adaptivepredictor described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/842,562entitled “ADAPTIVE PREDICTOR APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ROBOTIC CONTROL”,filed Mar. 15, 2013, incorporated supra.

The apparatus 200 may further comprise a prediction module 212configured to determine a forward model (FM) of the platform 210operation responsive to the control input 204. The FM module may receivea copy 206 of the control input 204 (e.g., turn 90° left) and a sensoryinput (e.g., comprising representation of robot's environment and/orstate of the platform 210) and determine a predicted outcome ofexecuting the action (e.g., position of the platform and/or one or moreobjects in the sensory input subsequent to the 90° left turn by theplatform, a predicted position of a joint, and/or other actions). In oneor more implementations, the FM may implement a dynamic and/or akinematic model of the robotic platform 210 operation. The model mayutilize, e.g., joint force and/or torque parameters in order to estimatethe platform motion.

In some implementations of haptic training, a trainer may interfere withthe action execution by the platform 210 via a physical contact (e.g.,haptic action) with the platform 210 In some implementations, the hapticaction may comprise one or more of a push, a pull, movement (e.g., pickup and move), a bump, and/or other interactions of the trainer with theplatform 210. The action may be considered as an external eventoccurring without an explicit indication to the controller of theplatform 210

The predicted state information 216 may be provided by the FM module toa comparator module 220 that may compare actual state information 214 tothe predicted state information 216. In one or more implementations, theactual platform state information 214 may be determined using anyapplicable methodologies. Examples of such methodologies may include oneor more of kinematic sensing (e.g., sensing position, velocity,acceleration, orientation, and/or other kinematics) using appropriatesensors (e.g., encoders, force sensor, torque sensor, tactile sensor,light sensor, sound sensor, GPS device, and/or other sensors) mounted onthe platform, and/or other methodologies.

The comparator module 220 may utilize the predicted and the actual stateinformation in order to infer external intervention, e.g., the teachinginput. The comparator may determine a discrepancy between predicted andactual (e.g., observed) state parameter(s) (e.g., joint orientation,force and/or torque of a motor). Various methods may be utilized inorder to identify user intervention by estimating when and what externalforces/torques are applied to the robotic body.

In some implementations, estimation of the force/torque exerted by atrainer (the, so called, contact forces) may be achieved using aninternal model configured to predict expected unconstrained readingsfrom the force/torque sensors and by comparing them with the actualsensory readings. The term “unconstrained reading” may refer to asensory input during action execution by the robot in the absence ofcontact with external bodies. Examples of non-contact forces maycomprise gravity, inertial, Coriolis, elastic, electromagnetic forces,and/or other non-contact forces. A discrepancy between the actualforce/torque reading and the expected non-contact forces (provided bythe internal model) may indicate a contact force applied to the roboticbody. In one or more implementations, the internal model providingpredictions may be hand-coded and/or learned.

By way of an illustration, in accordance with a dynamic and/or akinematic model of the robotic platform, a torque of X [N×m] may beexpected to result in a joint angle change of 30°. The measured angle of10° may indicate an environmental influence (e.g., an obstruction, windresistance, sliding on ice, and/or other environmental influences)and/or trainer physical intervention. In order to distinguish robotstate changes due to the trainer physical intervention fromenvironmental influences, a user intervention indication may be used. Insome implementations, a vision-based system may be employed in order toidentify and indicate to the robot whether a physical contact is madebetween the robot and the trainer and/or a robot and another body orobject.

The comparator 220 output 228 may be utilized in order to apply theteaching input to the learning process of the controller 202. In one ormore implementations, the controller 202 may evaluate the signal 228 inorder to determine user intervention. Based on characteristics of theintervention (e.g. the direction in which the user guides the robot tomove), the controller may use available optimization algorithms in orderto adapt its learning process and to produce output (e.g., 204, 206)that is consistent with the identified user intervention. For example,the produce motor commands configured to move the robot in the samedirection as indicated by the user intervention in the signal 228. Inone or more implementations, the controller learning process may beconfigured using a look-up table (LUT), a principal componentdecomposition (e.g., a Fourier, wavelet, spheroidal, and/or otherfunctions) an artificial neuron network (ANN), and/or other. In someimplementations, the FM may be implemented using a basis function kernelexpansion technique, e.g., such as described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/656,987, filed on Oct. 22, 2012 and entitled “APROPORTIONAL-INTEGRAL-DERIVATIVE CONTROLLER EFFECTING EXPANSION KERNELSCOMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SPIKING NEURONS ASSOCIATED WITH A PLURALITY OFRECEPTIVE FIELDS”, the foregoing being incorporated herein by referencein its entirety. The learning process adjustment may comprise addingand/or modifying one or more entries in the LUT, the decompositioncoefficients, and/or modifying efficacy of one or more connections ofthe ANN.

FIG. 3 illustrates use of an adaptive predictor apparatus by a roboticcontroller configured for haptic learning, in accordance with one ormore implementations. The apparatus 300 may comprise a robotic platform370 (e.g., a mobile rover, aerial vehicle, and/or a manipulator)configured to perform a target action based on the control signal 356.The target action may be characterized by a target trajectory (e.g., 130in FIG. 1). The robotic apparatus 300 may receive sensory input 302configured to convey information related to the robot's environment. Thetarget task may be configured based on one or more objects(targets/obstacles) being present in the robot's environment. Theapparatus 300 may comprise one or more feature extractors 310. Thefeature extractor 310 may be configured to determine one or more targetsand/or obstacles using the sensory input 302 and/or a feedback 372 fromthe platform 370. The detected feature information 312 may comprise oneor more of object position, size, color, platform position, and/or otherfeature information.

The robotic platform 370 may comprise one or more controllable motoractuators, joints, artificial limbs, and/or other components. Theapparatus 300 may comprise an adaptive predictor 340 configured todetermine a predicted motor control output 342 for operating theactuators. The predictor 340 may be operable in accordance withsupervised learning process configured based on the teaching signal 354.The predicted control signal 342 may be combined with a control signal362 by a combiner 350. The predictor and/or combiner may be operableusing, for example, adaptive predictor methodology described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/842,647 entitled “MULTICHANNEL ROBOTICCONTROLLER APPARATUS AND METHODS”, filed Mar. 15, 2013; and Ser. No.13/842,583 entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TRAINING OF ROBOTICDEVICES”, filed Mar. 15, 2013, incorporated supra. The output of thecombiner 350 may be utilized to adapt the predictor 310 learningprocess. In some implementations, the predictor 310 teaching input 354may be configured based on the combiner 350 output.

The feature extractor 320 may be configured to determine state of therobotic platform based on the sensory input 302 and/or platform feedback374. The detected state 322 may comprise one or more of joint position,motor torque/force, platform speed/orientation, and/or otherinformation.

The apparatus 300 may comprise an adaptive predictor 330 configured todetermine a predicted state of the platform based on the control action356. The predictor 330 may be operable in accordance with a supervisedlearning process configured based on the teaching signal 324. Thepredictor 330 may be configured to implement a forward model of theplatform, e.g., as described with respect to FIG. 2 above. In someimplementations, a forward model may determine causal relationshipbetween an action (e.g., a motor command) and its outcome (e.g., sensoryconsequences). A forward model may use as input a copy of a motorcommand (in FIG. 3, signal 352) and may produce a predicted change of astate of the platform (370 in FIG. 3) due to the motor command.

The predictor 330 may utilize the FM in order to produce predicted stateoutput 332 that may correspond to the control output 356 of the combiner350 provided to the predictor 330 via the pathway 352. The predictor 330combiner may be operable using, for example, adaptive predictormethodology described in the '647 and/or '583 applications referencedabove. The module 330 may use the learning process in order to adjust(e.g., calibrate) it FM implementations against actual realization ofthe platform 370 operation. In one or more implementations, the FM maybe based on supervised learning; the calibration may be used in order toaccount for physical imperfections of the platform (e.g., friction,thermal effects, and/or other imperfections), external influences (e.g.,wind, temperature changes, and/or other external influences), and/orother factors.

The apparatus 300 may comprise an adaptive controller module 360configured to determine the control signal 362. In some implementations,the control signal 362 may be interpreted as a correction for, e.g., thepredicted motor control signal 342. The control signal 362 may bedetermined based on a discrepancy between the predicted stateinformation 332 and the actual state of the platform 322 determined fromthe platform feedback and/or the sensory input.

FIG. 4A illustrates an adaptive apparatus configured to determine ateaching input during haptic training based on motion of the roboticplatform, in accordance with one or more implementations. The apparatus400 may comprise a robotic platform 470 (e.g., a mobile rover, aerialvehicle, a manipulator, and/or other platform) configured to perform atarget action based on the control signal 456. The control command 456may be configured to provide a motor power indication (e.g., a current)in one or more implementation. The robotic apparatus 400 may receivesensory input 402 configured to convey information related to therobot's environment. The target task may be configured based on one ormore objects (targets/obstacles) being present in the robot'senvironment.

The apparatus 400 may comprise one or more feature extractors 410, 420.The feature extractor 410 may be configured to determine informationrelated to one or more targets and/or obstacles using the sensory input402 and/or a feedback 472 from the platform 470. The detected featureinformation 412 may comprise one or more of object position, size,color, platform position and/or other feature information.

The robotic platform 470 may comprise one or more controllable motoractuators, joints, artificial limbs, and/or other components. Theapparatus 400 may comprise an adaptive predictor 440 configured todetermine a predicted motor control output 442 for operating theactuators. The predictor 440 may be operable in accordance withsupervised learning process configured based on the teaching signal 454.The predicted control signal 442 may comprise a motor power indication(e.g., a current draw) in one or more implementations.

The predicted control signal 442 may be combined with a control signal462 by a combiner 450. The predictor and/or combiner may be operableusing, for example, adaptive predictor methodology described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/842,647 entitled “MULTICHANNEL ROBOTICCONTROLLER APPARATUS AND METHODS”, filed Mar. 15, 2013; and Ser. No.13/842,583 entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TRAINING OF ROBOTICDEVICES”, filed Mar. 15, 2013, incorporated supra. The output of thecombiner 450 may be utilized to adapt the learning process of thepredictor 440 via the teaching signal 454. In some implementations, theteaching signal 454 may comprise a combination of the predicted controlsignal 442 and the control signal 462.

The feature extractor 420 may be configured to determine actual state ofthe robotic platform based on the sensory input 402 and/or platformfeedback 474. The detected state 422 may comprise velocity of theplatform 470 (e.g., rover velocity and/or limb velocity).

In one or more implementations of haptic training, the actual state 422of the platform 470 may be configured based on a teaching input due toone or more haptic actions e.g., as described above with respect toFIGS. 1-2.

The apparatus 400 may further comprise an adaptive predictor 430configured to infer presence and/or magnitude of the teaching inputbased on predicted control signal 442, received by the predictor module430 via the pathway 444, and actual state 422 of the platform. In one ormore implementations, the module 430 may incorporate a forward model ofthe platform 470 configured to relate one state parameter (e.g., thepredicted motor current command (c^(p)(c^(p)) to another state parameter(e.g., the actual platform velocity v^(a)v^(a)) as follows:c ^(t) =F(c ^(p) ,v ^(a))c ^(t) =F(c ^(p) ,v ^(a))  (Eqn. 4)where c^(t)c^(t) denotes the inferred power applied to the platform dueto the haptic teaching input. The module 430 may be used to identifyteacher intervention occurrence, e.g., determine a vector representingdirection and speed in which the trainer may be moving the robot using ahaptic action, and/or vectors of force/torque exerted by the trainer onthe robotic body. The signal 432 may be configured based on the statevector data associated with the trainer intervention. The predictormodule 430 may be operable in accordance with a learning processconfigured to calibrate the forward model in order to account forphysical imperfections of the platform (e.g., friction, thermal effects,and/or other imperfections), external influences (e.g., wind,temperature changes, and/or other influences), and/or other factors. Insome implementations, the predictor 430 learning process may be based ona supervised learning approach configured based on an actual state ofthe robot as the teaching signal. The teaching signal may comprise asensory readings of relevant state variables of the platform 470 (e.g.platform velocity), and/or an estimate of the relevant state variablesthat may be determined based on sensory readings. In someimplementations, the sensor may provide only images from a camerapointed towards the platform and estimation algorithms may be used todetermine platform configuration and velocity from these images. Theestimation algorithms may be embodied in module 420 or in 430.

The apparatus 400 may comprise an adaptive controller module 460configured to determine the control signal 462. The controller module460 may be operable in accordance with a control process configuredbased on the inferred teaching signal 432. In some implementations (notshown), the controller module 460 may be provided with the sensory input(e.g., 402,) and/or the platform feedback (e.g., 474). The controlprocess of the controller 460 may be configured to implement a dynamicmodel and a kinematic model of the robotic platform 470. In someimplementations, the control process of the controller 460 may implementan inverse model configured to determine, e.g., a target actuator torquebased on actual actuator position.

In one or more implementations, the control signal 462 may beinterpreted as a correction for, e.g., the predicted motor controlsignal 442. The control signal 462 may be determined based on adiscrepancy between the actual trajectory (e.g., 142 in FIG. 1) of therobotic device 400 and a target trajectory (e.g., 130) and may bedetermined based on the state information 422, 444 using, e.g., Eqn. 4.

FIG. 4B illustrates an adaptive system comprising a low level feedbackloop useful for determining a teaching input during haptic training, inaccordance with one or more implementations. The apparatus 401 of FIG.4B may comprise a robotic platform 471 (e.g., a mobile rover, aerialvehicle, a manipulator, and/or other platform) configured to perform atarget action based on the control signal 493. The control signal 493may be configured to provide a torque to one or more actuators of theplatform 471, in one or more implementation. The adaptive system 401 mayreceive sensory input 403 configured to convey information related tothe robot's environment. The target task may be configured based on oneor more objects (targets/obstacles) being present in the robot'senvironment.

The apparatus 401 may comprise one or more feature extractors 411, 421,481. The feature extractor 411 may be configured to determineinformation related to one or more targets and/or obstacles using thesensory input 403 and/or a feedback 473 from the platform 471. Thedetected feature information 413 may comprise one or more of objectposition, size, color, platform position and/or other featureinformation.

The robotic platform 471 may comprise one or more controllableactuators, such as motorized joints, linear actuators, servomotors,stepper motors, transducers (e.g., electrical, mechanical,electromagnetic, chemical, acoustic and/or thermal), artificial limbs,and/or other components. In some implementations, the actuator maycomprise low level control electronics configured to produce electrical,pneumatic, electromagnetic, and/or other signals configures toeffectuate actuator operation (e.g., turn actuator gears and/or decodeactuator feedback). Control of the platform actuator(s) may beimplemented using a feedback loop methodology, in accordance with one ormore implementations.

The system 401 may comprise a feedback controller 491 configured toimplement the control feedback loop based on a set point methodology.The feedback controller may be configured to receive the set pointinformation 457, conveying information about a target state of theplatform. In one or more implementations, the set point information mayconvey a target position of the platform (e.g., position of theattachment 810 in FIG. 8), a target speed of the rover 960, a targetheight of an aerial vehicle, and/or other parameter. The feedbackcontroller may be configured to receive actual state of the platform. Inone or more implementations, the actual state information 483 maycomprise actual platform position (e.g., position of the attachment 810in FIG. 8), actual speed of the rover 960, actual height of an aerialvehicle, and/or other parameter. The actual state information 483 may bedetermined by the feature extractor 481 based on the sensory input 403and/or feedback 477 from the platform 471. In some implementations, theplatform feedback 477 may comprise sensory information provided by anactuator and/or its accompanying electronics (e.g., actuator withfeedback) that may comprise actual actuator position, torque, current,and/or other parameter.

Based on the set point information (e.g., the target arm position) andthe actual platform state (the actual arm position), the feedbackcontroller 491 may determine actuator control output 493. In one or moreimplementations, the control output 493 may comprise actuator torque,motor current, transducer actuation force, and/or other. The controloutput may cause the platform to transition from the current state(e.g., the actual position) to a target state (e.g., the set pointposition).

The feedback controller 491, the platform 471 and the feature extractor481 may form a low-level feedback loop wherein the feedback controller491 may execute timely updates of the control signal based on acomparison between the target state (e.g., the set point) and the actualstate. The feedback controller may be configured to implement a dynamicmodel of the platform 471 so as to relate the torque control signal tothe target state (position). In some implementations, the feedbackcontroller 491 may update the control signal 493 more frequentlycompared to the update rate of the target state information 457. By wayof an illustration, for a given target position 457 of the platform(e.g., position set point), the controller 491 may issue several updatesof the torque 493 in order to achieve the target position.

The module 491 may be operable in accordance with a learning processconfigured to calibrate the forward model in order to account, forexample, for physical imperfections of the platform (e.g., friction,thermal effects, and/or other imperfections), external influences (e.g.,wind, temperature changes, and/or other influences), and/or otherfactors.

The system 401 may further comprise an adaptive predictor 441 configuredto determine a predicted target state signal 443 (e.g., a targetposition set point) in accordance with the context information 413. Thepredictor 441 may be operable in accordance with supervised learningprocess configured based on the teaching signal 455. The predictedcontrol signal 443 may comprise a target state indication (e.g., atarget position, speed, and/or other) in one or more implementations.

The system 401 may be operated using the haptic training approachdescribed herein. Based on determining a discrepancy between the targetstate (e.g., target position) and actual state (e.g., position) of theplatform, trainer may adjust the current state of the platform to matchthe target state. In some implementations of the control system 401controlling a robotic manipulator (e.g., as shown and described withrespect to FIG. 8) the trainer may displace a portion of the manipulator(e.g., the operational attachment 810 in FIG. 8) towards the targetposition using a physical contact with the manipulator.

The system 401 may comprise an adaptive controller module 461 configuredto determine control signal 463. The modification by the trainer of theplatform trajectory (e.g., via haptic action) may provide a teachinginput to the controller module 461. The controller module 461 mayconfigured to infer presence and/or magnitude of the teaching inputbased on the output of the predictor 441 received via the pathway 445,and the actual control state 423.

The feature extractor 421 may be configured to determine actual state ofthe robotic platform based on the sensory input 403 and/or platformfeedback 475. The detected state 423 may comprise velocity of theplatform 471 (e.g., rover velocity and/or limb velocity). In one or moreimplementations of haptic training, the actual state 421 of the platform471 may be configured based on a teaching input due to one or morehaptic actions e.g., as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-2.

In one or more implementations, the module 461 may incorporate a forwardmodel of the platform 471 configured to relate one state parameter(e.g., the predicted actuator torque actuator torque q^(p)) to anotherstate parameter (e.g., the predicted platform position p^(p)) asfollows:p ^(p)=FM(q ^(p))  (Eqn. 5)

In some implementations, the module 461 may be configured to implementan inverse model of the platform 471. The inverse model may beconfigured to determine a teaching input c^(t) based on the actualplatform state p^(a) and the predicted state p^(p):c ^(t) =IM(p ^(p) ,p ^(a))  (Eqn. 6)where c^(t) denotes the inferred teaching input (e.g., positiondisplacement) applied to the platform due to the haptic teaching input.The module 461 may be used to identify teacher intervention occurrence,e.g., determine a vector representing direction and speed in which thetrainer may be moving the robot using the haptic action, and/or vectorsof force/torque exerted by the trainer on the robotic body.

The controller module 461 may be operable in accordance with a controlprocess configured based on the inferred teaching input. In someimplementations, the controller module 461 may be provided with thesensory input (e.g., 403) and/or the platform feedback (e.g., 475). Thecontrol process of the controller 461 may be configured to implement akinematic model of the robotic platform 471.

In some implementations, the control process of the controller module461 may comprise a supervised learning approach configured based on ateaching signal. The teaching signal may comprise a displacement of theplatform position due to the haptic action by the trainer. In someimplementations, the teaching input may be configured based on sensoryreadings of relevant state variables of the platform 471 (e.g. platformposition), and/or an estimate of the relevant state variables that maybe determined based on sensory readings. The sensor input may compriseone or more images obtained using a camera disposed external to theplatform 471 and pointed at the platform. Estimation algorithms may beused to determine platform configuration, position, and/or velocityusing the camera output. The estimation algorithms may be embodied inmodule 421 and/or 461.

In one or more implementations, the control signal 463 may beinterpreted as a correction for the predicted control signal 443. Thecontrol signal 463 may be determined based on a discrepancy between theactual trajectory (e.g., 142 in FIG. 1) of the robotic device 401 and atarget trajectory (e.g., 130). The state discrepancy may be determinedbased on the state information 423, 445 using, e.g., Eqn. 4 and/or Eqn.5-6.

The predicted control signal 443 may be combined with a control signal463 by a combiner 451. The predictor and/or combiner may be operableusing, for example, adaptive predictor methodology described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/842,647 entitled “MULTICHANNEL ROBOTICCONTROLLER APPARATUS AND METHODS”, filed Mar. 15, 2013; and Ser. No.13/842,583 entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TRAINING OF ROBOTICDEVICES”, filed Mar. 15, 2013, incorporated supra. The output of thecombiner 451 may be utilized to adapt the learning process of thepredictor 441 via the teaching signal 455. In some implementations, theteaching signal 455 may comprise a combination of the predicted controlsignal 443 and the control signal 463.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating a robotic controllerapparatus for implementing, inter alia, haptic training methodology inaccordance with one or more implementations.

The apparatus 500 may comprise a processing module 516 configured toreceive sensory input from sensory block 520 (e.g., camera 966 in FIG.9). In some implementations, the sensory module 520 may comprise audioinput/output portion. The processing module 516 may be configured toimplement signal processing functionality (e.g., object detection).

The apparatus 500 may comprise memory 514 configured to store executableinstructions (e.g., operating system and/or application code, raw and/orprocessed data such as raw image frames and/or object views, teachinginput, information related to one or more detected objects, and/or otherinformation).

In some implementations, the processing module 516 may interface withone or more of the mechanical 518, sensory 520, electrical 522, powercomponents 524, communications interface 526, and/or other componentsvia driver interfaces, software abstraction layers, and/or otherinterfacing techniques. Thus, additional processing and memory capacitymay be used to support these processes. However, it will be appreciatedthat these components may be fully controlled by the processing module.The memory and processing capacity may aid in processing code managementfor the apparatus 500 (e.g. loading, replacement, initial startup and/orother operations). Consistent with the present disclosure, the variouscomponents of the device may be remotely disposed from one another,and/or aggregated. For example, the instructions operating the hapticlearning process may be executed on a server apparatus that may controlthe mechanical components via network or radio connection. In someimplementations, multiple mechanical, sensory, electrical units, and/orother components may be controlled by a single robotic controller vianetwork/radio connectivity.

The mechanical components 518 may include virtually any type of devicecapable of motion and/or performance of a desired function or task.Examples of such devices may include one or more of motors, servos,pumps, hydraulics, pneumatics, stepper motors, rotational plates,micro-electro-mechanical devices (MEMS), electroactive polymers, shapememory alloy (SMA) activation, and/or other devices. The sensor devicesmay interface with the processing module, and/or enable physicalinteraction and/or manipulation of the device.

The sensory devices 520 may enable the controller apparatus 500 toaccept stimulus from external entities. Examples of such externalentities may include one or more of video, audio, haptic, capacitive,radio, vibrational, ultrasonic, infrared, motion, and temperaturesensors radar, lidar and/or sonar, and/or other external entities. Themodule 516 may implement logic configured to process user queries (e.g.,voice input “are these my keys”) and/or provide responses and/orinstructions to the user. The processing associated with sensoryinformation is discussed with respect to FIG. 5.

The electrical components 522 may include virtually any electricaldevice for interaction and manipulation of the outside world. Examplesof such electrical devices may include one or more of light/radiationgenerating devices (e.g. LEDs, IR sources, light bulbs, and/or otherdevices), audio devices, monitors/displays, switches, heaters, coolers,ultrasound transducers, lasers, and/or other electrical devices. Thesedevices may enable a wide array of applications for the apparatus 500 inindustrial, hobbyist, building management, medical device,military/intelligence, and/or other fields.

The communications interface may include one or more connections toexternal computerized devices to allow for, inter alia, management ofthe apparatus 500. The connections may include one or more of thewireless or wireline interfaces discussed above, and may includecustomized or proprietary connections for specific applications. Thecommunications interface may be configured to receive sensory input froman external camera, a user interface (e.g., a headset microphone, abutton, a touchpad, and/or other user interface), and/or provide sensoryoutput (e.g., voice commands to a headset, visual feedback, and/or othersensory output).

The power system 524 may be tailored to the needs of the application ofthe device. For example, for a small hobbyist robot or aid device, awireless power solution (e.g. battery, solar cell, inductive(contactless) power source, rectification, and/or other wireless powersolution) may be appropriate. However, for building managementapplications, battery backup/direct wall power may be superior, in someimplementations. In addition, in some implementations, the power systemmay be adaptable with respect to the training of the apparatus 500.Thus, the apparatus 500 may improve its efficiency (to include powerconsumption efficiency) through learned management techniquesspecifically tailored to the tasks performed by the apparatus 500.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate methods 600, 700 of operating robotic devicesutilizing the haptic training methodology of the disclosure. Theoperations of methods 600, 700 presented below are intended to beillustrative. In some implementations, method 600, 700 may beaccomplished with one or more additional operations not described,and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally,the order in which the operations of method 600, 700 are illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7 and described below is not intended to be limiting.

In some implementations, methods 600, 700 may be implemented in one ormore processing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor,a digital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of methods 600, 700 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of methods 600, 700. FIG. 6illustrates a method of haptic training of a robotic device, inaccordance with one or more implementations. In one or moreimplementations, the training may be effectuated by a trainer comprisinga human operator and/or a computerized agent. Training of method 600 maybe based on multiple iterations (e.g., the trials 124, 126 in FIG. 1)wherein during a given iteration the robot may be configured to navigatea trajectory (e.g., the trajectory 130 in FIG. 1).

At operation 602 of method 600, a context may be determined. In someimplementations, the context may comprise one or more aspects of sensoryinput (e.g., 302 in FIG. 3 described above and/or 1002 of FIG. 10,described below) and/or feedback that may be provided by robot platformto the controller. In one or more implementations, the sensory aspectsmay include an object being detected in the input, a location of theobject, an object characteristic (color/shape), a sequence of movements(e.g., a turn), a characteristic of an environment (e.g., an apparentmotion of a wall and/or other surroundings turning a turn and/orapproach) responsive to the movement. In some implementation, thesensory input may be received based on performing one or more trainingtrials of the robotic apparatus.

At operation 602 the robot may be operated in accordance with an outputdetermined by a learning process of the robot based on the context. Insome implementations, the context may comprise location of objects 132,134 in FIG. 1. The output may comprise a control command to one or moreactuators of the rover 110 configured to execute right turn. Theoperation 602 may be characterized by a trajectory of the robot, e.g.,142 in FIG. 1.

At operation 604 state of the robot may be observed by the trainer. Inone or more implementation, the state may comprise position of the roveralong the trajectory (e.g., at location 144 if the trajectory 142 inFIG. 1), orientation and/or velocity of a manipulator, and/or otherparameters. Based on the robot state observation at operation 604, thetrainer may determine that the actual robot state does not match thetarget state (e.g., the actual trajectory location 144 does not matchthe target trajectory location 146 in FIG. 1).

At operation 606 a teaching input may be provided to the robot by thetrainer modifying the robot's state via physical contact (e.g., a hapticaction) with the robot platform. In some implementations, the hapticaction may comprise one or more of a push, a pull, a movement (e.g.,pick up and move, move forward, backwards, rotate, rich for an object,pick up, grasp, manipulate, release, and/or other movements), a bump,moving the robot or a portion thereof along a target trajectory, holdingthe robot in place, and/or other physical interaction of the trainerwith the robot. In one or more implementations of training a manipulatorarm, the haptic action may comprise the trainer grabbing and moving thearm along the target trajectory.

At operation 608, the learning process of the robot may be updated basedon the training input due to the haptic action. In one or moreimplementations, the learning process may comprise a supervised learningprocess configured based on the teaching signal. The teaching signal maybe inferred based on a comparison of the robot's actual state with apredicted state using, e.g., methodologies described above with respectto FIGS. 2-4B. At a subsequent time instance (e.g., from the location146 to the target 140 in FIG. 1), the robot may be operated inaccordance with the output of the updated learning process.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method of operating a robotic device using hapticlearning methodology, in accordance with one or more implementations.

At operation 702 in accordance with a sensory input, a predicted motoroutput may be determined by a learning process of the robotic device. Inone or more implementations, such as object recognition and/or obstacleavoidance, the input of operation 702 may comprise a stream of pixelvalues associated with one or more digital images. In one or moreimplementations (e.g., video, radar, sonography, x-ray, magneticresonance imaging, and/or other types of sensing), the input maycomprise electromagnetic waves (e.g., visible light, IR, UV, and/orother types of electromagnetic waves) entering an imaging sensor array.In some implementations, the imaging sensor array may comprise one ormore of RGCs, a charge coupled device (CCD), an active-pixel sensor(APS), and/or other sensors. The input signal may comprise a sequence ofimages and/or image frames. The sequence of images and/or image framemay be received from a CCD camera via a receiver apparatus and/ordownloaded from a file. The image may comprise a two-dimensional matrixof RGB values refreshed at a 25 Hz frame rate. It will be appreciated bythose skilled in the arts that the above image parameters are merelyexemplary, and many other image representations (e.g., bitmap, CMYK,HSV, HSL, grayscale, and/or other representations) and/or frame ratesare equally useful with the present technology. Pixels and/or groups ofpixels associated with objects and/or features in the input frames maybe encoded using, for example, latency encoding described in commonlyowned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/869,583, filedAug. 26, 2010 and entitled “INVARIANT PULSE LATENCY CODING SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS”; U.S. Pat. No. 8,315,305, issued Nov. 20, 2012, entitled“SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INVARIANT PULSE LATENCY CODING”; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/152,084, filed Jun. 2, 2011, entitled “APPARATUSAND METHODS FOR PULSE-CODE INVARIANT OBJECT RECOGNITION”; and/or latencyencoding comprising a temporal winner take all mechanism described U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/757,607, filed Feb. 1, 2013 and entitled“TEMPORAL WINNER TAKES ALL SPIKING NEURON NETWORK SENSORY PROCESSINGAPPARATUS AND METHODS”, each of the foregoing being incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

In one or more implementations, encoding may comprise adaptiveadjustment of neuron parameters, such neuron excitability described incommonly owned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/623,820 entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ENCODING OF SENSORY DATAUSING ARTIFICIAL SPIKING NEURONS”, filed Sep. 20, 2012, the foregoingbeing incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The sensory input of operation 702 may comprise data used for solving aparticular control task. For example, the sensory input signal maycomprise a stream of raw sensor data and/or preprocessed data. Rawsensor data may include data conveying information associated with oneor more of proximity, inertial, terrain imaging, and/or otherinformation. Preprocessed data may include data conveying informationassociated with one or more of velocity, information extracted fromaccelerometers, distance to obstacle, positions, and/or otherinformation. In some implementations, such as those involving objectrecognition, the sensory input may comprise an array of pixel values inthe input image, or preprocessed data. Preprocessed data may includedata conveying information associated with one or more of levels ofactivations of Gabor filters for face recognition, contours, and/orother information. In one or more implementations, the sensory input maycomprise a target motion trajectory, and/or state of the roboticplatform (e.g., joint orientation, motor current draw, torque, force,acceleration, and/or other parameters useful for determining platformconfiguration, position and/or motion characteristics). In one or moreimplementations, the predicted output may comprise the adaptivepredictor output 342, 442 in FIG. 3, 4 described above.

At operation 704, actual state of the robot may be determined. In one ormore implementations, the actual state determination may compriseevaluating one or more sensory inputs (e.g., joint orientation, motorcurrent draw, torque, force, acceleration, and/or other parameters)obtained at operation 702.

At operation 705, a predicted state of the robot may be determined. Inone or more implementations, the predicted state determination may beconfigured based on a forward model configured to predict state of therobot (e.g., joint orientation) based on a motor output (e.g., currentapplied to the joint motor) determined at operation 702. The forwardmodel operation may be based on any applicable methodologies describedherein (e.g., a LUT, a component decomposition, an ANN, and/or other).

At operation 706 a determination may be made as to whether the actualstate matches the predicted state. In one or more implementations, thepredicted state may be configured based on the robot navigating thetarget trajectory in accordance with the predicted motor output (e.g.,342, 442 in FIGS. 3, 4A).

Responsive to a determination at operation 706 that the actual statedoes not match the target state, the method may proceed to operation 708wherein a discrepancy between the predicted state and actual state maybe determined. Various approaches may be utilized in order to determinediscrepancy. In one or more implementations, a distance measure, a norm,a maximum absolute deviation, a signed/unsigned difference, acorrelation, and/or a function of an n-dimensional distance may beutilized.

At operation 709 a teaching input into the robot learning process may bedetermined. In some implementations, the teaching input may be inferredbased on the discrepancy. In one or more implementations, the teachinginput may comprise a motor command correction (e.g., 362, 462 in FIGS.3, 4A). The teaching input determination may be based on any applicablemethodologies including interpolation, extrapolation and/or other.

At operation 710 the learning process may be adjusted based on theteaching input determined at operation 709. The learning process maycomprise a supervised learning process configured to be adjusted basedon a teaching input comprised of a prior motor control output and themotor command correction (e.g., the combiner output 354, 454 in FIGS. 3,4A). The learning process adjustment may be configured to adjust theactual trajectory of the robotic device during one or more subsequenttraining trials (e.g., the trajectory 152 of the trial 126 in FIG. 1).

Responsive to a determination at operation 706 that the actual statematches the target state, the method may proceed to operation 712,wherein the trajectory may be navigated based on a combined controloutput (e.g., 356, 456 in FIGS. 3, 4A) comprising the predicted motorcontrol output and the correction.

The haptic learning methodology described herein is characterized byabsence of record/replay phases of robot operation. In accordance withthe principles of the present disclosure, at a given time instance, therobot may navigate a trajectory autonomously (e.g., based on aninternally determined control signal (e.g., 342, 442 in FIGS. 3, 4A)).When the teaching input is present (e.g., due to a haptic push/pullaction by the trainer), the trajectory of the robot may be modified soas to execute an action based on both the internal control signal andthe correction signal (e.g., 362, 462 in FIGS. 3, 4A) due to trainerinput. The correction signal may be inferred by the controller based onan evaluation of a predicted and an actual state of the robot using,e.g., a forward model configured to predict a state parameter of therobot corresponding to execution of the internal control signal. In someimplementations, the evaluation may be based on a comparison, ann-dimensional (n≥1) distance measure determination in the state apace ofthe robotic device, a correlation, and/or other operation. The forwardmodel determination module may be pre-configured and/or learned duringthe training. The forward model learning may comprise a supervisedlearning process configured based on an actual state of the robot as theteaching signal. The use of learning may enable FM adjustment (e.g.,calibration) responsive to changes in the robot platform (e.g., due tofriction, thermal effects, and/or other) and/or environment (e.g., wind,temperature, pressure changes, and/or other) during operation of therobot. In some implementations, a generic FM may be calibrated throughlearning for a given individual body of the robot thereby improvingperformance of the robot. The actual state of the robot may bedetermined using visual feedback (e.g., joint position), motor actuatorfeedback (e.g., torque, position, current draw), and/or other.

The controller configuration, e.g., comprising the combiner module 350,450 illustrated in FIGS. 3-4A, may enable action execution due tocontemporaneous application of the teaching correction and theautonomously generated control signals. The correction may be providedto the internal control signal predictor module so as to modify itslearning process and to adjust subsequent control signal predictions.

In some implementations, the robot may be configured to autonomouslysense and/or infer teaching correction during trajectory navigation inabsence of additional indications/teaching clues. In one or moreimplementations, the robot may be configured to detect a teaching signalindication in sensory input (e.g., appearance of trainer hands proximatea manipulator arm). Such implementations may facilitate teaching inputinference in presence of external factors (e.g., obstacles,environmental changes) that may affect the robot trajectory.

Haptic training methodology described herein may be utilized forimplementing adaptive controllers of robotic devices. FIG. 8 depicts arobotic manipulator apparatus 800 that may be operably coupled to anadaptive controller, e.g., one or more controller implementationsillustrated in FIGS. 1-5, supra. The robotic apparatus 800 may comprisemultiple segments 802, 804 coupled to joints 806, 808. The apparatus 800may be characterized by multiple degrees of freedom, e.g., angles 816,818 of the segments 802, 804, respectively, as shown in theimplementation of FIG. 8. The controller (not shown) of the apparatus800 may be operable in accordance with a learning process configured toadjust angles 816, 818 in order to perform a target task (e.g., toposition the attachment functional attachment 810 at a target position).The learning process of the controller may be trained using the onlinehaptic training methodology described herein. During online haptictraining of the apparatus 800 controller, a trainer may adjustoperational trajectory of the apparatus 800 in real time. Theoperational trajectory may be characterized by one or more stateparameters associated with the apparatus 800. In one or moreimplementations, the state parameters may comprise segment angles 816,818, positions of actuators of joints 816, 818, actuator torque, currentdraw, position of the attachment 810, and/or other parameters.

By way of a non-limiting illustration, upon observing a discrepancybetween current position of the attachment 810 and a target position,the trainer may use a physical contact (e.g., depicted by arrow 812 inFIG. 8) in order to displace the attachment 810 to the target position.In some implementations, the haptic action 812 may cause changes in thein multiple state parameters (e.g., the angle 816 may changecontemporaneously with the angle 818). The controller may be configuredto detect occurrence of the trajectory displacement due to theinterference by the trainer (e.g., the haptic action 812). In someimplementations, the trainer's interference may be determined based onan evaluation of a current state of the apparatus 800 (e.g., the angles816, 818) and a predicted state. The learning process of the controllermay comprise a supervised learning process that may be updated using atraining signal inferred from the state evaluation using, e.g.,methodology described with respect to FIG. 7 above.

FIG. 9 depicts a mobile robotic apparatus that may be configured with anadaptive controller in accordance with one or more implementationsillustrated in FIGS. 1-5, supra. The robotic apparatus 960 may comprisea camera 966. The camera 966 may be characterized by a field of view 968(e.g., an extent of the observable world that may be captured by thecamera lens at a given moment). The camera 966 may provide informationassociated with objects within the field-of-view. In someimplementations, the camera 966 may provide frames of pixels ofluminance, refreshed at 25 Hz frame rate. However, it will beappreciated that, in some implementations, other frame rates may be used(whether constant or variable).

One or more objects (e.g., a floor 970, a stationary object 974, amoving object 976, and/or other objects) may be present in the camerafield of view. The motion of the objects may result in a displacement ofpixels representing the objects within successive frames, such asdescribed in co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/689,717 filedon Nov. 20, 2012 and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR OBJECTDETECTION VIA OPTICAL FLOW CANCELLATION”, issued as U.S. Pat. No.9,047,568 on Jun. 2, 2015 and incorporated by reference in its entirety.

When the robotic apparatus 960 is in motion, such as shown by arrow 964in FIG. 9, the optical flow estimated from the image data may comprisethe self-motion component and the object motion component. By way of anon-limiting example, the optical flow measured by the rover of FIG. 9may comprise one or more of (i) self-motion components of the stationaryobject 978 and the boundary (e.g., the component 972 associated with thefloor boundary); (ii) component 980 associated with the moving objects976 that comprises a superposition of the optical flow components due tothe object displacement and displacement of the robotic apparatus;and/or other components.

One approach to object recognition and/or obstacle avoidance maycomprise processing of optical flow using a spiking neural networkapparatus comprising for example the self-motion cancellation mechanism,such as described, for example, in co-owned U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/689,717 filed on Nov. 20, 2012 and entitled “APPARATUS ANDMETHODS FOR OBJECT DETECTION VIA OPTICAL FLOW CANCELLATION”, issued asU.S. Pat. No. 9,047,568 on Jun. 2, 2015, the foregoing beingincorporated supra.

FIG. 10 illustrates a processing apparatus configured to implementobject recognition and/or obstacle avoidance and useful with an adaptivecontroller of a robotic device of FIG. 9. The illustrated processingapparatus 1000 may comprise an input interface configured to receive aninput sensory signal 1002. In some implementations, this sensory inputmay comprise electromagnetic waves (e.g., visible light, IR, UV, and/orother types of electromagnetic waves) entering an imaging sensor array.The imaging sensor array may comprise one or more of retinal ganglioncells (RGCs), a charge coupled device (CCD), an active-pixel sensor(APS), and/or other sensors. The input signal may comprise a sequence ofimages and/or image frames. The sequence of images and/or image framemay be received from a CCD camera via a receiver apparatus and/ordownloaded from a file. The image may comprise a two-dimensional matrixof RGB values refreshed at a 25 Hz frame rate. It will be appreciated bythose skilled in the arts that the above image parameters are merelyexemplary, and many other image representations (e.g., bitmap, CMYK,HSV, grayscale, and/or other representations) and/or frame rates(whether regular or aperiodic) are equally useful with the presentdisclosure. The apparatus 1000 may be embodied in, for example, anautonomous robotic device, e.g., the device 960 of FIG. 9.

The apparatus 1000 may comprise an encoder 1010 configured to transform(e.g., encode) the input signal 1002 into an encoded signal 1026. Insome implementations, the encoded signal may comprise a plurality ofpulses (also referred to as a group of pulses) configured to representthe optical flow due to one or more objects in the vicinity of therobotic device.

The encoder 1010 may receive signal 1004 representing motion of therobotic device. In one or more implementations, the input 1004 maycomprise an output of an inertial sensor module. The inertial sensormodule may comprise one or more acceleration sensors and/or accelerationrate of change (i.e., rate) sensors. In one or more implementations, theinertial sensor module may comprise a 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axisgyroscope, and/or other inertial sensor. It will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the arts that various other motion sensors may be used tocharacterized motion of a robotic platform, such as, for example, radialencoders, range sensors, global positioning system (GPS) receivers,RADAR, SONAR, LIDAR, and/or other sensors.

The encoder 1010 may comprise one or more spiking neurons. One or moreof the spiking neurons of the module 1010 may be configured to encodemotion input 1004. One or more of the spiking neurons of the module 1010may be configured to encode input 1002 into optical flow, as describedin co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/689,717 filed on Nov.20, 2012 and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR OBJECT DETECTION VIAOPTICAL FLOW CANCELLATION”, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,047,568 on Jun. 2,2015, incorporated supra.

The encoded signal 1026 may be communicated from the encoder 1010 viamultiple connections (also referred to as transmission channels,communication channels, or synaptic connections) 1044 to one or moreneuronal nodes (also referred to as the detectors) 1042.

In one or more implementations such as those represented by FIG. 10,individual detectors of the same hierarchical layer may be denoted by a“_n” designator, such that, e.g., the designator 1042_1 denotes thefirst detector of the layer 1042. Although only two detectors (1042_1,1042_n) are shown in FIG. 10 for clarity, it will be appreciated thatthe encoder may be coupled to any number of detector nodes that iscompatible with the detection apparatus hardware and softwarelimitations. Furthermore, a single detector node may be coupled to anypractical number of encoders.

In various implementations, individual detectors 1042_1, 1042_n maycontain logic (which may be implemented as a software code, hardwarelogic, and/or a combination of thereof) configured to recognize apredetermined pattern of pulses in the encoded signal 1026 to producepost-synaptic detection signals transmitted over communication channels1048. Such recognition may include one or more mechanisms described inone or more of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/869,573 filed on Aug.26, 2010 and entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INVARIANT PULSE LATENCYCODING”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/869,583 filed on Aug. 26,2010 and entitled “INVARIANT PULSE LATENCY CODING SYSTEMS AND METHODS”;U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/117,048 filed on May 26, 2011 andentitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR POLYCHRONOUS ENCODING ANDMULTIPLEXING IN NEURONAL PROSTHETIC DEVICES”; and/or U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/152,084 filed Jun. 2, 2011 and entitled“APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PULSE-CODE INVARIANT OBJECT RECOGNITION”;each of the foregoing incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.In FIG. 10, the designators 1048_1, 1048_n denote output of thedetectors 1042_1, 1042_n, respectively.

In some implementations, the detection signals may be delivered to anext layer of detectors 1052 (comprising detectors 1052_1, 1052_m,1052_k) for recognition of complex object features and objects, similarto the exemplary implementation described in commonly owned andco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/152,084 filed on Jun. 2,2011 and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PULSE-CODE INVARIANT OBJECTRECOGNITION”, incorporated supra. In some implementations, individualsubsequent layers of detectors may be configured to receive signals(e.g., via connections 1058) from the previous detector layer, and todetect more complex features and objects (as compared to the featuresdetected by the preceding detector layer). For example, a bank of edgedetectors may be followed by a bank of bar detectors, followed by a bankof corner detectors and so on, thereby enabling recognition of one ormore letters of an alphabet by the apparatus.

Individual detectors 1042 may output detection (post-synaptic) signalson communication channels 1048_1, 1048_n (with an appropriate latency)that may propagate with appropriate conduction delays to the detectors1052. In some implementations, the detector cascade shown in FIG. 10 maycontain any practical number of detector nodes and detector banksdetermined, inter alia, by the software/hardware resources of thedetection apparatus and complexity of the objects being detected.

The exemplary sensory processing apparatus 1000 illustrated in FIG. 10may further comprise one or more lateral connections 1046, configured toprovide information about activity of neighboring neurons to oneanother.

In some implementations, the apparatus 1000 may comprise feedbackconnections 1006, 1056, which may be configured to communicate contextinformation from detectors within one hierarchy layer to previouslayers, as illustrated by the feedback connections 1056_1, 1056_2 inFIG. 10. In some implementations, the feedback connection 1006 may beconfigured to provide feedback to the encoder 1010 thereby facilitatingsensory input encoding, as described in detail in commonly owned andco-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/152,084 filed on Jun. 2,2011 and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PULSE-CODE INVARIANT OBJECTRECOGNITION”, incorporated supra.

Output 1050 of the processing apparatus 1000 may be provided via one ormore connections 1058.

Various exemplary computerized apparatus configured to operate a neuronnetwork configured to implement haptic learning methodology set forthherein are now described in connection with FIGS. 11A-11D.

A computerized neuromorphic processing system, consistent with one ormore implementations, for use with an adaptive robotic controllerdescribed, supra, is illustrated in FIG. 11A. The computerized system1100 of FIG. 11A may comprise an input device 1110, such as, forexample, an image sensor and/or digital image interface. The inputinterface 1110 may be coupled to the processing module (e.g., a singleor multi-processor module) via the input communication interface 1114.In some implementations, the interface 1114 may comprise a wirelessinterface (e.g., cellular wireless, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and/or otherwireless interface) that enables data transfer to the processor 1102from remote I/O interface 1100. One such implementation may comprise acentral processing apparatus coupled to one or more remote cameradevices providing sensory input to the pre-processing module (e.g.,described with respect to operation 314 in FIG. 3).

The system 1100 further may comprise a random access memory (RAM) 1108,configured to store neuronal states and connection parameters and tofacilitate synaptic updates. In some implementations, synaptic updatesmay be performed according to the description provided in, for example,in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/239,255 filed Sep. 21, 2011,entitled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR SYNAPTIC UPDATE IN A PULSE-CODEDNETWORK”, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some implementations, the memory 1108 may be coupled to the processor1102 via a direct connection 1116 (e.g., memory bus). The memory 1108may also be coupled to the processor 1102 via a high-speed processor bus1112.

The system 1100 may comprise a nonvolatile storage device 1106. Thenonvolatile storage device 1106 may comprise, inter alia, computerreadable instructions configured to implement various aspects ofneuronal network operation. Examples of various aspects of neuronalnetwork operation may include one or more of sensory input encoding,connection plasticity, operation model of neurons, learning ruleevaluation, other operations, and/or other aspects. In one or moreimplementations, the nonvolatile storage 1106 may be used to store stateinformation of the neurons and connections for later use and loadingpreviously stored network configuration. The nonvolatile storage 1106may be used to store state information of the neurons and connectionswhen, for example, saving and/or loading network state snapshot,implementing context switching, saving current network configuration,and/or performing other operations. The current network configurationmay include one or more of connection weights, update rules, neuronalstates, learning rules, and/or other parameters.

In some implementations, the computerized apparatus 1100 may be coupledto one or more of an external processing device, a storage device, aninput device, and/or other devices via an I/O interface 1120. The I/Ointerface 1120 may include one or more of a computer I/O bus (PCI-E),wired (e.g., Ethernet) or wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) network connection,and/or other I/O interfaces.

In some implementations, the input/output (I/O) interface may comprise aspeech input (e.g., a microphone) and a speech recognition moduleconfigured to receive and recognize user commands.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the arts that variousprocessing devices may be used with computerized system 1100, includingbut not limited to, a single core/multicore CPU, DSP, FPGA, GPU, ASIC,combinations thereof, and/or other processing entities (e.g., computingclusters and/or cloud computing services). Various user input/outputinterfaces may be similarly applicable to implementations of thedisclosure including, for example, an LCD/LED monitor, touch-screeninput and display device, speech input device, stylus, light pen,trackball, and/or other devices.

Referring now to FIG. 11B, one implementation of neuromorphiccomputerized system configured to implement haptic learning mechanismsusing a parallel network is described in detail. The neuromorphicprocessing system 1130 of FIG. 11B may comprise a plurality ofprocessing blocks (micro-blocks) 1140. Individual micro cores maycomprise a computing logic core 1132 and a memory block 1134. The logiccore 1132 may be configured to implement various aspects of neuronalnode operation, such as the node model, and synaptic update rules and/orother tasks relevant to network operation. The memory block may beconfigured to store, inter alia, neuronal state variables and connectionparameters (e.g., weights, delays, I/O mapping) of connections 1138.

The micro-blocks 1140 may be interconnected with one another usingconnections 1138 and routers 1136. As it is appreciated by those skilledin the arts, the connection layout in FIG. 11B is exemplary, and manyother connection implementations (e.g., one to all, all to all, and/orother maps) are compatible with the disclosure.

The neuromorphic apparatus 1130 may be configured to receive input(e.g., visual input) via the interface 1142. In one or moreimplementations, applicable for example to interfacing with computerizedspiking retina, or image array, the apparatus 1130 may provide feedbackinformation via the interface 1142 to facilitate encoding of the inputsignal.

The neuromorphic apparatus 1130 may be configured to provide output viathe interface 1144. Examples of such output may include one or more ofan indication of recognized object or a feature, a motor command (e.g.,to zoom/pan the image array), and/or other outputs.

The apparatus 1130, in one or more implementations, may interface toexternal fast response memory (e.g., RAM) via high bandwidth memoryinterface 1148, thereby enabling storage of intermediate networkoperational parameters. Examples of intermediate network operationalparameters may include one or more of spike timing, neuron state, and/orother parameters. The apparatus 1130 may interface to external memoryvia lower bandwidth memory interface 1146 to facilitate one or more ofprogram loading, operational mode changes, and retargeting, and/or otheroperations. Network node and connection information for a current taskmay be saved for future use and flushed. Previously stored networkconfiguration may be loaded in place of the network node and connectioninformation for the current task, as described for example in co-pendingand co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/487,576 filed on Jun.4, 2012 and entitled “DYNAMICALLY RECONFIGURABLE STOCHASTIC LEARNINGAPPARATUS AND METHODS”, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. External memory may include one or more of a Flash drive, amagnetic drive, and/or other external memory.

FIG. 11C illustrates one or more implementations of shared busneuromorphic computerized system 1145 comprising micro-blocks 1140,described with respect to FIG. 11B, supra. The system 1145 of FIG. 11Cmay utilize shared bus 1147, 1149 to interconnect micro-blocks 1140 withone another.

FIG. 11D illustrates one implementation of cell-based neuromorphiccomputerized system architecture configured to implement haptic learningusing a parallel network is described in detail. The neuromorphic system1150 may comprise a hierarchy of processing blocks (cells blocks). Insome implementations, the lowest level L1 cell 1152 of the apparatus1150 may comprise logic and memory blocks. The lowest level L1 cell 1152of the apparatus 1150 may be configured similar to the micro block 1140of the apparatus shown in FIG. 11B. A number of cell blocks may bearranged in a cluster and may communicate with one another via localinterconnects 1162, 1164. Individual clusters may form higher levelcell, e.g., cell L2, denoted as 1154 in FIG. 11D. Similarly, several L2clusters may communicate with one another via a second levelinterconnect 1166 and form a super-cluster L3, denoted as 1156 in FIG.11D. The super-clusters 1154 may communicate via a third levelinterconnect 1168 and may form a next level cluster. It will beappreciated by those skilled in the arts that the hierarchical structureof the apparatus 1150, comprising four cells-per-level, is merely oneexemplary implementation, and other implementations may comprise more orfewer cells per level, and/or fewer or more levels.

Different cell levels (e.g., L1, L2, L3) of the apparatus 1150 may beconfigured to perform functionality various levels of complexity. Insome implementations, individual L1 cells may process in paralleldifferent portions of the visual input (e.g., encode individual pixelblocks, and/or encode motion signal), with the L2, L3 cells performingprogressively higher level functionality (e.g., object detection).Individual ones of L2, L3, cells may perform different aspects ofoperating a robot with one or more L2/L3 cells processing visual datafrom a camera, and other L2/L3 cells operating motor control block forimplementing lens motion what tracking an object or performing lensstabilization functions.

The neuromorphic apparatus 1150 may receive input (e.g., visual input)via the interface 1160. In one or more implementations, applicable forexample to interfacing with computerized spiking retina, or image array,the apparatus 1150 may provide feedback information via the interface1160 to facilitate encoding of the input signal.

The neuromorphic apparatus 1150 may provide output via the interface1170. The output may include one or more of an indication of recognizedobject or a feature, a motor command, a command to zoom/pan the imagearray, and/or other outputs. In some implementations, the apparatus 1150may perform all of the I/O functionality using single I/O block (notshown).

The apparatus 1150, in one or more implementations, may interface toexternal fast response memory (e.g., RAM) via a high bandwidth memoryinterface (not shown), thereby enabling storage of intermediate networkoperational parameters (e.g., spike timing, neuron state, and/or otherparameters). In one or more implementations, the apparatus 1150 mayinterface to external memory via a lower bandwidth memory interface (notshown) to facilitate program loading, operational mode changes,retargeting, and/or other operations. Network node and connectioninformation for a current task may be saved for future use and flushed.Previously stored network configuration may be loaded in place of thenetwork node and connection information for the current task, asdescribed for example the application '576, referenced supra.

In one or more implementations, one or more portions of the apparatus1150 may be configured to operate one or more learning rules, asdescribed for example in the application '576 referenced supra. In onesuch implementation, one block (e.g., the L3 block 1156) may be used toprocess input received via the interface 1160 and to provide a teachingsignal to another block (e.g., the L2 block 1156) via intervalinterconnects 1166, 1168.

Training of adaptive robotic devices using the haptic trainingmethodology set forth herein may advantageously be utilized in variousapplications, including, e.g., autonomous navigation, assisted living,healthcare, object manipulation, tracking, object pursuit, locomotion,and/or other applications of robotics.

The haptic training approach may provide, via a physical contact, anatural, intuitive teaching interface to correct a behavior of therobot. In some implementations of, e.g., elder care, the haptic trainingapproach may be utilized in lieu of remote manipulation of the robot viaa remote control device thereby facilitating training of robots bypersons with limited dexterity and/or limited experience of working withremotely operated robotic devices.

In some implementations, the haptic training may obviate use of remotecontrol devices whereby simplifying training and/or reducing costsassociated therewith. The haptic training approach to motion captureand/or teleoperation devices may simplify and/or altogether eliminateuse of additional hardware (e.g., motion capturing gloves, a joystick, agesture-based control device, a multi degree of freedom remotecontrollers and/or other).

In contrast to some existing approaches of leaning from demonstration,the haptic learning methodology of the disclosure may not requireexplicit physical correspondence between the teacher body configurationand the robot configuration.

It will be recognized that while certain aspects of the disclosure aredescribed in terms of a specific sequence of steps of a method, thesedescriptions are only illustrative of the broader methods of thedisclosure, and may be modified as required by the particularapplication. Certain steps may be rendered unnecessary or optional undercertain circumstances. Additionally, certain steps or functionality maybe added to the disclosed implementations, or the order of performanceof two or more steps permuted. All such variations are considered to beencompassed within the disclosure disclosed and claimed herein.

While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointedout novel features of the disclosure as applied to variousimplementations, it will be understood that various omissions,substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device orprocess illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the disclosure. The foregoing description is of the bestmode presently contemplated of carrying out the principles of thedisclosure. This description is in no way meant to be limiting, butrather should be taken as illustrative of the general principles of thedisclosure. The scope of the disclosure should be determined withreference to the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating a robot comprising:determining a first control signal associated with an environmentalcontext of the robot; causing, based at least in part on the determinedfirst control signal, the robot to perform a task characterized by atarget trajectory; determining the target trajectory based on aprediction module, the prediction module configured to receive the firstcontrol signal and a sensory input; and adjusting an actual trajectorybased on response to observing a discrepancy between the actualtrajectory and the target trajectory, the adjusting of the actualtrajectory comprises determining a second control signal configured tocooperate with the first control signal to cause the robot to transitionthe actual trajectory towards the target trajectory in a subsequentperformance of the task in the environmental context.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: generating a forward model of the robotusing the prediction module, the forward model being representative of apredicted future state of the robot after executing the first controlsignal.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a firstcontrol signal comprising a routine learned from an operator guiding arobot through the first routine through physical contact; receiving asecond control signal generated based on the movements of the robot bythe operator, the control signal comprising adjusting the first routine;and performing a learning process that modifies the first routine basedon the second control signal.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: sending an input comprising sensor data, a control signal,and/or a learning signal to a neuromorphic processing system; andreceiving an output from the neuromorphic processing system, the outputcomprising an indication of recognized object, a motor command, and/orother outputs associated with learning and operating the robot.
 5. Arobot apparatus, comprising: one or more actuators configured tomaneuver the robot apparatus; a sensor module configured to conveyinformation related to an environment of the robot apparatus; acontroller operable in accordance with a learning process configured to,guide the robot apparatus using the one or more actuators to a targetstate in accordance with the information, determine a discrepancybetween a target trajectory that corresponds to the target state and acurrent trajectory that corresponds to a current state, and update thelearning process based on the determined discrepancy, wherein theupdated learning process comprises a determination of a correctionsignal to guide the robot apparatus using the one or more actuators tothe target state based on a subsequent conveyance of information by thesensor module; and a communications unit configured to enable the robotapparatus to send and receive data signals, the data signals comprisinga learning, context, and/or control signals.
 6. The robot apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to: use a forwardmodel of the robot to determine the target state and trajectory, whereinthe forward model is representative of the robot at the targettrajectory and the target state; calculate differences between a currentstate of the robot and the forward model when determining thediscrepancy between a target trajectory that corresponds to the targetstate and a current trajectory that corresponds to a current state; andupdate the learning process based on the determined discrepancy.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 6, wherein the learning process is configured inaccordance with a teaching signal.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5, whereinthe determination of the discrepancy is based at least in part on aphysical contact by a user, the physical contact comprises at least oneof releasing, moving, manipulating, interacting with, and touching therobot apparatus.
 9. The robot apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:a neuromorphic processing apparatus comprising a multilevel architecturedesigned to accomplish tasks of varying complexity associated withnavigation, future state prediction, learning, and object detection. 10.The robot apparatus of claim 9, wherein the neuromorphic processingapparatus can further be configured to: receive an input comprising atleast one learning signal; process the at least one signal in parallelwith previous learning signals; and provide output signals comprisingone or more of an indication of recognized object or a feature, a motorcommand, and/or other outputs for operating and teaching the roboticapparatus.
 11. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising aplurality of computer readable instructions stored thereon, which, whenexecuted by one or more processors, configure the one or more processorsto, determine, based on a context, a first control signal configured totransition a robotic apparatus to a first state; determine a discrepancybetween a current trajectory associated with a current state, and afirst trajectory associated with the first state, the discrepancybetween the trajectories comprises a measurable difference, the firsttrajectory associated with the first state being determined based on aforward model of the robotic apparatus, the forward model beingindicative of the first trajectory and position of the robotic apparatusat the first state; and determine a second control signal based on thediscrepancy, the second control signal configured to transition therobotic apparatus to the current state.
 12. The non-transitory computerreadable medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors isfurther configured to execute the plurality of computer readableinstructions to, change in the context which is configured to cause anadaptation of the learning process, the adaptation being configured toproduce another version of a control signal, the change in context isdetermined by the robot apparatus receiving an input signal from anoperator and/or sensor data comprising the context of the movement. 13.The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the oneor more processors is further configured to execute the plurality ofcomputer readable instructions to, implement various aspects andoperations associated with neuronal network operation.
 14. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: training the robot to perform a targettask, the target task comprising either recognizing an object,approaching a target, or avoiding an obstacle.
 15. The method of claim1, further comprising: enabling the robot with reliable decision makingas the robot travels the target trajectory.
 16. The robot apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein the controller operable in accordance with a learningprocess is configured to train the robot apparatus to perform a targettask, the target task comprising either recognizing an object,approaching a target, or avoiding an obstacle.
 17. The robot apparatusof claim 5, wherein the controller operable in accordance with alearning process is configured to enable the robot apparatus withreliable decision making as the robot apparatus travels the targettrajectory.
 18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11,wherein the one or more processors is further configured to execute theplurality of computer readable instructions to, train the roboticapparatus to perform a target task, the target task comprising eitherrecognizing an object, approaching a target, or avoiding an obstacle.19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein theone or more processors is further configured to execute the plurality ofcomputer readable instructions to, enable the robotic apparatus withreliable decision making as the robotic apparatus travels the firsttrajectory.